Goslar Health Department warns: Measles epidemic requires vaccination booster!

Goslar Health Department warns: Measles epidemic requires vaccination booster!

In recent weeks, a measles epidemic in the United States has alarmed health authorities. With over 1,000 people sick and three deaths, the danger of this highly contagious disease is once again in focus. The Goslar district health department has therefore made an urgent appeal to all those who are critical of vaccinations against measles: rethink your attitude! regionalHeute.de reported that measles can be transmitted through respiratory droplets. Even before the first signs of illness appear, infected people can infect others. This shows how important protection against this disease is.

The current situation in the USA is alarming. It is becoming increasingly clear there that falling vaccination rates are endangering the population. A study by the Stanford Medicine Institute found that fewer children are being vaccinated, increasing the risk of serious outbreaks. Forecasts indicate that if the vaccination rate stabilizes, so-called horror figures of 850,000 measles cases and 2,500 deaths could become reality over the next 20 years. Tagesschau.de shows that most sick people in the US are unvaccinated, underscoring the urgency of boosting vaccination rates.

The situation in Germany and Europe

In Germany the situation is not much better. Measles cases here have fluctuated in recent years, with 2021 numbers relatively low at just eight cases compared to 2,466 in 2015, according to an analysis. But as the German Society for Child and Adolescent Medicine ( DGK ) reports that the number of measles infections is increasing worldwide - by 20 percent in the last year. By 2023, there are estimates of a total of 10.3 million cases of measles, of which 110,000 will be fatal, mostly in children under five.

Vaccination bears a large part of the responsibility. The protection level for the measles vaccination is 93% after the first and 97% after the second vaccination. In Germany, measles vaccination has also been mandatory for certain groups of people since March 1, 2020. And yet around 1,000 cases have been reported in the Goslar district in which the vaccination requirement was not met. It is advisable to catch up on vaccinations and check your vaccination certificate.

The importance of the MMR vaccination

The STIKO (Standing Vaccination Commission) recommends the MMR combination vaccination (measles, mumps, rubella) in two doses for all children, whereby the first vaccination can be given at the earliest at the age of 11 months. Adults born after 1970 and whose vaccination status is unclear should also get vaccinated. People born before 1970 are very likely to have had measles and do not need vaccination. Pediatricians and general practitioners in private practice offer both advice and vaccinations.

It is clear that the issue of vaccine debate and fear has become a serious threat to public health in many countries, including Germany. With the return of measles and the questions of conscience that come with vaccinations, it remains crucial to make informed decisions and do as much as possible for yourself and your community.